Asante Sana. 고맙습니다. Merci Beaucoup. Thank You Very Much. Part 3

The last few weeks have been good weeks for my fundraising and I have a few more thank yous to give. As always, this volunteer trip would not be possible without the support of an ever-increasing number of people.

About a month ago, I applied for a grant from the University of Victoria Alumni Association. They provide grants to:

• enhance the quality of education at UVic; improve campus life;
• help students and recent graduates (last five years);
• otherwise support the university

Being a recent graduate of UVic, I qualified for one such grant. Recently I was informed that I had indeed received a grant. This grant will go toward paying for a significant portion of my program fee. They were very generous and up to now they have been my largest donor. I thank them for their generosity. For more information about the UVic Alumni Association, please visit http://alumni.uvic.ca/.

Two other individuals have also donated money recently to my fundraising: Janet Gefre and Pat Finlay. Their contributions have pushed my fundraising efforts beyond $500 Canadian. This is a big milestone and I thank them both for their donations. Janet has also donated a few items to be used in other fundraising events and this addition is also greatly appreciated.

Once again, I would like to thank everyone who has helped me to this point. I look forward to continuing to thank people for their help. Your support is welcomed and if you know of anyone who would want to support a cause like mine, please point them in this direction!

Website Launch!

Michael Without Borders is proud to announce the launch of our new website. The website will be used to coordinate several different aspects of Michael Without Borders. You can find the site at http://www.michaelwithoutborders.com.

Included in the site will be a link to this blog. Other resources on the site will include a link to a message board where you can discuss any issues that are relevant, a link to a store where you can buy Michael Without Borders merchandise (and whose profits go to Michael Without Borders), and links to more information about my volunteering.

The website also contains information regarding fundraising, other projects I am working on or have completed, and pictures of some of my travels so far. There is also a page on the site dedicated to thanking those who have given their time or money to my efforts.

Please take the time to visit the site, and pass on the link to people you know. Even if you cannot help me directly, by referring someone else, you may help me in the long run.

Thank you all once more for your support. For more information, please check out the site.

Vaccination and Medical Test Fun! 병원에 갔어요.

A week and a half ago, I made a trip to the Itaewon International Clinic in Seoul to get my medical check started and to plan out a course of vaccinations. The doctor was more than accommodating and checked me out right there and then. I must say that going to Africa required less medical checks (no bodily fluid tests, x-rays, etc.), but requires quite a bit more needles putting things into my body.

Much to my surprise, the doctor offered to give me a few shots the same day. So I got a Hepatitis B booster shot, a Typhoid Fever shot and a TB test shot (which I returned to get read two days later - I don't have TB, if you were wondering). Three needles in one day was a bit much. I had to get one in each shoulder and one on my forearm. Fun times for someone who doesn't like needles (and who just had blood taken a week or two earlier to get his teaching visa renewed)

I was informed by this doctor that there is no multi-strain meningococcal and thus no vaccine is available. Although I don't find it strange that the disease is not here, I do find it odd that I cannot get a vaccine for it in Korea. Does that mean that there is Typhoid Fever and Yellow Fever in Korea? Either way, I will have to wait until I return to Canada (or another country that has the vaccine) before I can get that shot in the arm.

On top of all that, I got two prescriptions: one for malaria pills (apparently not the ones that will give me bad dreams) and one for an antibiotic (cypro I think?). I have a long time until I need them, but since things are so cheap in Korea, I'll likely get them pre-departure.

I was also told that I have to go to a special place to get my Yellow Fever vaccination. I have yet to make this appointment, as teaching has been very busy the last few weeks. Look for a description of that ordeal in the future (I may have to go to the Airport to get this, but probably not).

Anyway, here's hoping it all works out.

Until next time!

Thank You Very Much. Asante Sana. Merci Beaucoup. 고맙습니다. Part 2

It has come time to give a second round of thank yous to a few people who have helped me out in the last few weeks. Without the support of several people, my going to Africa would not be possible.

The first thank you goes to my father, John Davidson, who has used his connections to help spread the word about my trip and my fundraising needs. He has also helped with research into things to sell (look for these soon!). On a related note, I would also like to thank the rest of my family (Sister Heather and Mother Sharon) for helping with this as well. My being in Korea has placed some restraints on what I can accomplish and all of my family members have been more than helpful in this regard.

The second thank you goes out to Carolyn Reinhart who has offered to help me obtain two qualifications I will require for my trip: a swim test (to see if I can swim 200m unassisted) and to help me get my first aid certification.

The third thank you is to an anonymous donor who donated money to my cause. The donor asked not to be named, but I wish to thank the donor regardless. So thank you.

As I have said time and time again, this would not be possible without the support of several people. Thank you for all of the time and money that you have donated. It will support not just me, but those who I will have a chance to work with overseas and at home.